4 yr old Pre-K or home?

Question

My son is 4 and here in FL they have free pre-k . I have visited a few preschools and the teacher-student ratio is 18-20 students / one teacher. The curriculum they have is to teach the abc names and sounds , colors,shapes and to count to 20, but my son already knows all this and can read 3-5 letters words , he counts to 50,writes his name,knows phone N&address . I taught him at home . We go 2 times /week at church where he does activities with children his age. The question is :Is pre-K and K necessary? Is homeschool a better option for now and even for later?Will I be burned out if I have 3 other young children ?

Answer 1

No, u should home school him and focus on him weakest skills. check in once a week at a local pre-school or K and teach harder than what their working on... if you have more children form a drop in schedule for your child if its free. Start your child in school when he/she gets to first or fourth.

Answer 2

I am a student teacher in a preschool run by the technical center attached to my school. If you see these children play with each other and become friends and see how much fun they have just seeing the teachers every day, you wouldn't question preschool anymore! It is absolutely wonderful. It isn't just learning the boring stuff like that, trust me. They should be doing crafts and table games to develop their fine motor skills and also active play games that should help them better their gross motor skills. Also, if he already does know that, then maybe he would be as of help to other children that need a little more help. That could help him make some more friends.

I love seeing these children every day and they will form such a bond with the teachers and the other students there. It really is a good idea to get them started early with meeting other people and making sure they are really easing into the whole school process. You would be amazed just how much some one-on-one attention from a teacher means to these little ones. I can promise you that if it is a really good preschool, your son will love it and look forward to going. He will be adapting to the atmosphere as well as having an amazing time!

I really hope that helped you decide what is a good option for your son.

Answer 3

One thing to concider is that there are alot of things leared in prek that can't really be taught in a home enviroment, that make a major difference in Kindergarden...such as behavior in a classroom sitting in desks and in a circle. Walking in line, taking turns...i would say if your son is in an enviroment that he can or has learned all these things that go for it keep him at home for prek. After all you can never have too much time with your kids.

Answer 4

Your son seems to know alot which is good but I don't think it's a bad idea just for socialization, him to have some fun, or or you to get a little break. As far as home school it depends how are the public schools in your area ? I have 3 kids and the school they are in is one of the best here so it's probably better for them you just have to weigh it out. You said you have 3 younger children eventually you probably would get a little burnt out.

Answer 5

Home =] pre k is like home anyways but if u want ur daughter/son to interact with people u can go ahead and send him/her there

Answer 6

Hmmm... 1:18 in preschool is not usual...but I do not know FL state requirements but I'm going into look into it and you should as well.  It really should be minimum 1:10... even better 1:6.  

Preschool is much more about socialization and for that regard...I recommend sending him...but not if the ratio is 1:18!  My son has had two years of preschool and what he knows cognitively was not learned from preschool.  They do not focus so much on the cognitive.  Is this a play-based preschool?  Those are the best...children learn best by exploration and it doesn't matter their development because they are going to naturally use what they know in each of the centers...if the centers are set up appropiately to allow for this.

Homeschooling...burning out....it's a possibility.  I suggest that if you decide to homeschool beyond preschool then you set up an area in your home to be used for "school".  How you set it up depends on you.  You also need a schedule and a plan of action that you are going to stick to.  Create or purchase a curriculum...Not sure what is required in your state.  I know, unfortunately, in MI there isn't much required and it's very obvious with many of the home-schooled families.

I found the following site for you to check out....generally most preschools must be licensed as day care and their minimum for adult/child ratio is 1:10.  This site has the required standards on it.  It should help you make a decision and give you some questions to ask the preschool you were thinking about sending your child to.

Answer 7

Teachers can always tell the difference between a child that has been to preschool and one that hasn't. Even though your child has some time with children at church it is not the same type of interaction with children in a classroom type of environment. My daughter did not attend preschool and kindergarten was a little difficult at first for her. She didn't understand raising her hand or waiting in line. I also used to take her to the park and to church but that did not teach her as much as I thought it did. My sons on the other hand both went to preschool and the transistion to kindergarten was much easier. They understood what was expected of them before walking into the classroom and really understood they weren't there for play but for learning. I would suggest preschool.

Answer 8

It sounds like you already know that you want to homeschool and you are seeking some encouragement and positive input.  Homeschooling can start at any age but is recognised by the education department at 6. You will not be burned out with 3 other young children at home.  Have faith in your own ability to love, nurture, train and teach your children.  We as women were designed to have babies and a home to maintain and to train our children ourselves.  Society began to undermine a mothers role in this by making institutionalised schooling the norm...  Our children are individual little people and mothers understand each childs personalities and needs in a way that nobody else has been designed to do.  I have homeschooled 6 children and wouldn't want it any other way.

Answer 9

I would say home, I grew up in New Port Richey, Florida in the 80's and back then they never had free Pre-K, plus there was no such thing as part-day kindergarten, we went all day.  Florida schools aren't very good to begin with.  If he already knows the basics and socializes at church, great.  The Florida schools didn't let me start Kindergarten until I was almost 6, because my birthday falls in October, so by the time I entered Kindergarten, I was ready for 1-2nd grade.  If I lived in Florida today, I would choose Christian school or homeschool.  If you did home school with 3 other children, you can team up with other homeschool Mom's in the area, with like ideals about the way you want to teach your child, and do things in a group.

Answer 10

Florida has the Worst qualified teachers in the Nation...Home school them. No one has to go to preschool, but its so your child is good with socialization. If you homeschool though, they will be isolated, you just need to chose what is best for you. Also, do you have the resources for homeschooling.

Answer 11

i think, homeschooling its better for your child..